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anyone tried using their korean iphone on vacation?
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:50 pm    Post subject: anyone tried using their korean iphone on vacation? Reply with quote

Been looking everywhere for this answer.

Supposedly the iphone 4s were being sold unlocked in korea, so that should mean that they can be used on most international networks using a sim, but has anyone actually tried this?

My girlfriend is going home for a few weeks and would like to use her iphone 4 with a prepaid sim.

anyone tried it?
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Slaps



Joined: 22 Jun 2007
Location: Sitting on top of the world

PostPosted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Don't know about the 4 as I have a lowly 3Gs but KT will unlock free of charge with a quick phone call to them. They then send you a txt with instructions and you will then need to insert your new sim and plug into itunes.

Sounds simple enough.

Roaming of course works fine.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that is only if you have paid off the phone though.

She has a ways to go before getting it paid off, but the phones are supposedly unlocked at purchase. I was just wondering if anyone can confirm this.

The KT help line said that she should be good to go, but I have gotten bad advice from them before.
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a 3GS. 3GS's are sold locked, Iphone 4's are sold unlocked.

As for my 3GS, KT would only unlock the phone if A)I sent them a copy of a plane ticket showing a return date to Korea or B) I pay off the rest of the balance on my phone. I chose B.

Within 24 Hours, KT's network sends an "unlock" signal to my Iphone. I went to the US, popped in an AT&T pre-paid SIM, plugged my phone into Itunes, and my phone worked great, albeit with AT&T's crappy network.

So, it does work with the 3GS. Seeing as how the Iphone 4's are sold unlocked I don't see why it shouldn't work.

There were a few snafus with the process though.

#1. when you put in another SIM card, you gotta plug your phone into Itunes. You only gotta do it once in order to "activate" the SIM to your iphone.

#2. When inserting a new SIM card from a different carrier, it takes a few minutes for the phone to update to that carrier. When I inserted my AT&T SIM card, suddenly the "Personal Hotspot" feature was nonexistent in my settings. When I arrived in Korea and popped my KT simcard in, it took a few minutes for it to work, but the personal hotspot feature was back in my settings.

I'm guessing the phone takes a few minutes to update its carrier file when you swap SIMs,
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jonpurdy



Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Location: Ulsan

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had a different experience. I have a 3Gs and called them up a few months ago. They said I had to pay nothing and asked no questions regarding my travel status. They just authorized the unlock and told me the iTunes instructions. I've still got time left on my contract.
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hogwonguy1979



Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was told by KT that after a month they will unlock a 4g iphone, hope this true as this summer I'll be in SE Asia for 6 weeks and dont want to pay the gloabal roaming rates.

btw hows the service in Lao and Cambodia? I know Thailand is ok and to not even try in Burma.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thanks guys, good info
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kumoh



Joined: 05 Dec 2007

PostPosted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I used my iphone in Japan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Thailand with local sim cards.
My phone officially unlocked from KT.
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chevro1et



Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Location: Busan, ROK

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anybody know the lock/ unlock status of olleh iphone4? Or if they will unlock it upon request?
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kumoh



Joined: 05 Dec 2007

PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2011 3:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Anybody know the lock/ unlock status of olleh iphone4? Or if they will unlock it upon request?


you should request it via KT 114 service, to complete unlocking u need foreign sim card and connect it to itunes.

there is no service to lock your phone back.
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chevro1et



Joined: 01 Feb 2007
Location: Busan, ROK

PostPosted: Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kumoh wrote:
Quote:
Anybody know the lock/ unlock status of olleh iphone4? Or if they will unlock it upon request?


you should request it via KT 114 service, to complete unlocking u need foreign sim card and connect it to itunes.

there is no service to lock your phone back.

Thanks. Will likely do this before I go to Canada in July then.
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hogwonguy1979



Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den

PostPosted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 2:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kumoh wrote:
Quote:
Anybody know the lock/ unlock status of olleh iphone4? Or if they will unlock it upon request?


you should request it via KT 114 service, to complete unlocking u need foreign sim card and connect it to itunes.

there is no service to lock your phone back.


I assume you can get it unlocked before leaving Korea without a foreign sim card in it and just get the card when you get to your destination.

Am I correct?
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blade



Joined: 30 Jun 2007

PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

kumoh wrote:
Quote:
Anybody know the lock/ unlock status of olleh iphone4? Or if they will unlock it upon request?


you should request it via KT 114 service, to complete unlocking u need foreign sim card and connect it to itunes.

there is no service to lock your phone back.

Will they unlock an iphone that is still being paid off?
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had something kind of odd happen today when my GF called KT to ask them to unlock it for her trip and the service line told her that the phone was ready to be used overseas with another countries SIM card. No unlock needed. In addition, they said that she wouldnt have to pay for the week that she was out of the country.

Good if it is true, but from what you guys have said, she should need a signal unlock or something.... any information?
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.

Iphone 3GS's are not sold unlocked. You need KT to send a signal to your phone to unlock it.

Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
Iphone 4's are sold unlocked. Period.
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